Concussion sidelines Ray Drew from UGA practice (updated w/ practice notes)
(Updated 3:50 p.m.)
ATHENS – Georgia’s football team held its first full-pads practice of preseason camp today, minus a half-dozen injured or ill players.
Among the injured: defensive ends Abry Jones, out with a left knee contusion, and Ray Drew, sidelined by a concussion.
Georgia disclosed the injuries as part of a new policy of providing reporters covering practice a daily, written “injury-illness report” from director of sports medicine Ron Courson. Today’s report provided no indication how long Jones and Drew will be sidelined from practice, nor any further detail on their injuries.
Coach Mark Richt, who in the past has tended to answer reporters’ questions about injuries after practices, sometimes with incomplete information, said the new policy was decided upon in the off-season.
“It wasn’t my idea, it wasn’t my brainstorm, but I’m part of the team,” Richt said. “I think it’s just to give you guys exactly what we want to give you [regarding injuries], and if you ask me a question about it, I’ll say, ‘Just read the report.’ And that’ll kind of be the way we go. But if you want to ask me about how does that affect the depth chart or something like that, [fine].
“I think, in football, injury reports are important; people want to know about what’s going on. But then you’ve got family members that we want to consider when we throw stuff out there.”
Also missing today’s practice: offensive lineman Chris Burnette (illness), safety Marc Deas (right hamstring strain), walk-on tight end Hugh Williams (third metacarpal fracture on left hand) and walk-on receiver Curtis Wyatt (illness).
According to the injury-illness report: Burnette is probable to return to practice Tuesday; Deas’ status is day-to-day; Williams will miss 10 to 14 days of practice after having out-patient surgery today at St. Mary’s Hospital; and Wyatt is probable to return to practice Wednesday.
Richt acknowledged that Drew, a sophomore who moved from linebacker to defensive end in the spring, is missing needed practice time.
“He needs reps, no doubt,” Richt said. “Even the veterans, they need a certain amount of reps to get to where they’re sharp.”
On the Bulldogs’ latest depth chart, Jones and Cornelius Washington are the starting defensive ends and Drew a second-teamer. To have two players, Jones and Drew, miss practice time at the same position compounds the effect, Richt said.
“Once a guy or two starts to miss practice, it usually takes a little bit more of a toll on that position group,” Richt said. “We’ve got some good quality depth, but it’s not like it’s unlimited in that area. As a matter of fact, in the 105[-player preseason roster], there’s a lot more offensive players than defensive players. Our scholarships guys are about equal, but the majority of the walk-ons are offense.”
Etc.
Georgia will practice twice Tuesday. Two-a-day practices have become increasingly rare in college football; the Bulldogs have just one other two-practice day scheduled this preseason. . . . Tuesday’s first practice will focus on the kicking game. So far, Richt said, he has seen what he expected from freshman placekicker Marshall Morgan and freshman punter Collin Barber. . . . Freshman tailback Todd Gurley “is picking things up really fast,” according to senior wide receiver Tavarres King. . . . Richt told Richard Samuel “we need you to be ready” to play either tailback or fullback. “I told him continuing to get reps at tailback wouldn’t keep him from being a starting fullback,” Richt said. . . . The player making “the most direct hits” in Monday’s practice, Richt said, was linebacker Alec Ogletree. . . . Quarterback Aaron Murray said the offensive line “has looked great the first five days” and “definitely has picked up where [it] left off this spring.”
MORE FOOTBALL
- Rodney Garner talks roster management, Penn State and recruiting character
- Malcolm Mitchell all-defense for now, but double-duty starts soon
- Georgia clears Branden Smith to play in opening game
- Aaron Murray spends summer honing craft with football’s finest
- The Kolton Houston case
- The top five priorities of preseason camp
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197 comments Add your comment
DawginLex
August 6th, 2012
3:42 pm
Starters galore on special teams.
No scrimmages yet THIS year so how do we know what it looks like?
We don’t.
You don’t think Richt knows that special teams need attention?
REMEMBER I SAID
August 6th, 2012
3:47 pm
SKITTY FRITTY YOU GEEK
north georgia fan
August 6th, 2012
3:50 pm
Even when wearing helmets and shorts (no pads) there are big bodies flying around, it can happen
North Georgia Dawg
August 6th, 2012
3:53 pm
I hope these guys get back out there soon, but it’s early in camp, so I’m not concerned at the moment. Garrison Smith is someone we should not forget about too, because he really came on last season when Tyson got hurt. Smith will push the others at defensive end and provide quality depth. Go Dawgs!
Nick
August 6th, 2012
3:55 pm
It took Bobby Bowden 18 years at FSU and 28 overall before he finally won a national title. Richt is due, and I’d say all the nay-sayers will disappear after it happens.
Look forward to seeing Ramik
August 6th, 2012
3:59 pm
Man, I have been counting on seeing Ramik Wilson play for awhile. He came in last yr. not quite as heralded as some other LBs but he was said to be fast and very athletic. When he signed, he was only around 220. Has he beefed up with last year a red shirt year? He is from Tampa, I think.
Go Dogs.
G-Dawg
August 6th, 2012
4:03 pm
Freshman missile: Speaking of running backs, Richt said freshman fullback Quayvon Hicks might be playing with a bit too much enthusiasm thus far. He compared Hicks’ desire to blast an opponent to that of former Bulldogs big-hitting safety Greg Blue, but said Hicks needs to play with a bit more control.
“He’s like a missile wanting to strike, but if the target moves enough, he’s going to miss it or he’s going to get a piece of him,” Richt said. “So he’s got to learn to get his eyes up a little bit better and be in a position to make sure that he gets a good fit and then follow through rather than just trying to knock somebody out every time.”
'94 UGA Alumnus
August 6th, 2012
4:05 pm
Hey Bad Brad,
My guess is that it was another scooter incident
'94 UGA Alumnus
August 6th, 2012
4:12 pm
Hey North Georgia Dawg,
You are right about Garrison Smith. That guy is a player. My starting DL would be Jones, Jenkins, and Smith..
ARdawg
August 6th, 2012
4:14 pm
G-Dawg
There’s been some good chatter about Quayvon Hicks. Comparing his hitting style to Greg Blue is quite a compliment. I am anxious to see the fine young chap
Michael Dyer
August 6th, 2012
4:17 pm
I’m the greatest running back in the history of the game. You guys in Athens should give me a look!
CHDawg
August 6th, 2012
4:25 pm
This what I heard: Richt got mad that people were saying his killer instinct was waning…he gave Drew a head-butt and knocked him out.
CHDawg
August 6th, 2012
4:26 pm
is what I heard…I drop my verbs when I’m lying
WDE
August 6th, 2012
4:33 pm
@Beast from the East I’m thinking your Gators , Auburn and UT will all be better this year with the Gators making the most improvement. But only time will tell…and I agree we can’t kick off soon enough ..well as soon as I can get back to the states that is…Go Dogs !
Joey
August 6th, 2012
4:34 pm
What is up with Drew? Scooter wreck last year basically ruined his season, now a flukey concussion? As big a waste of a scholarship as the 20 (?) walk-ons so far.
Richt should thumb his nose at the rest of the SEC and only make ‘Tree and Rambo sit for the first game, ONLY. They wouldn’t even get that with the rest of the NCAA teams.
When the other SEC programs start suspending their All-Americans, fine, do it here. Otherwise, tic-for-tac . . .
Mobile Dawg
August 6th, 2012
4:37 pm
The new policy was put in place by McGarity to relieve Richt of things he has to think about so he can focus more on football.
Joey
August 6th, 2012
4:43 pm
“You don’t think Richt knows that special teams need attention?”
********************************************
Who knows DIL? Richt thinks it’s as simple as “spending a little more time” on STs? Damn! So he never spent more time on them last season? All seaon? Our KO and punt teams were as bad at the end of the season as they were in the very first game.
I say fight fire with fire. Richt should hire some analysts (Nick Saban style) for the special teams.
If Richt doesn’t plug these holes, UGA cannot compete with Bama an LSU. Special teams gave the SECCG to LSU last year.
Joey
August 6th, 2012
4:50 pm
Hey Dixie Redcoat, who’s your team?
Ricky Bobby Richt
August 6th, 2012
4:51 pm
Y’all need to lay off of Drew, he hit his head on the diving board at the Ramsey Center.
JJ
August 6th, 2012
4:56 pm
Two things to note based on comments read from earlier;
1) Things will be different on special teams coverage. Richt already said the days of walk-ons and underclassmen filling those spots are over. Starters will be in there this year if they are the best options.
2) Florida will lose at least 7 games this year. You heard it here first. Worst set of quarterbacks in the conferrence. (Well maybe Auburn would give them a run.)
Joey
August 6th, 2012
4:58 pm
Mobile Dawg, okay, so Richt got an “administrative assistant” to help him with his paperwork, and free up time for his football studying.
So, have you seen any sign of that? I’m still waiting on the cutting-edge football stuff we were promised – you know, that studying that he hadn’t been doing for years?
Game Changer
August 6th, 2012
5:07 pm
During 7 week stretch, one home game against ole miss, then two weeks later ga southern. So in a 9 week span we play two home games against ole miss and a d2 school, the students and fan base will lose interest because of the terrible schedule that McQuackity produced at sec meetings. Butts Mehre has no leadership or accountability — CONTINUING FAILURE
A day in the life of CMR
August 6th, 2012
5:22 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuAUI_0knfk Starring CMR as Ricky Bobby…. Water Girl as Carley…… the old and tired passionate UGA Fan as Chip……undisciplined UGA players as Texas Ranger and Walker…..The sheeple fans and Richt apologist as Cal Naughton Jr. This truly depicts the state of the UGA Football program. Enjoy!
Mobile Dawg
August 6th, 2012
5:24 pm
I’m afraid he hasn’t been taking advantage of “study hall” Joey, otherwise he would have figured the angle to hire an analyst before Saban did.
umyboyBlue17
August 6th, 2012
5:38 pm
yeah Blue was a beast I remember a game once when he knocked a guys helmet off and it flew over the gatorade, I think maybe the guys head was still in it. The guy screamed in pain I felt sorry for the kid, one of those small LA schools.
truedawg
August 6th, 2012
5:43 pm
Defense is loaded and stacked deep. Maybe the best D in all NCAA…IF conditioning is better this year. I’m not worried about ST’s . Dawgs have a great punter and kicker. Say what you will, but something is in the air in Athens when it comes to great kickers..All the years we’ve had greatest in the game…Walsh, Bennett, Butler, Robinson….Just covergae problems. The O line is the biggest concern PERIOD! We just won’t know good or bad til Sept. If the line can block..UGA will give LSU or Bama all the want and then some. OK you see it here first..and If I’m wrong I’ll never post again..DAWGS will blow USC out this year, by 2 scores! UT will score points this year but has no D. UF will have a great D but still no QB and no running game. Aurburn will stink it up, and get caught finally by NCAA and get death penality. Bama will play UGA in the dome and Bama moves to claim last BCS championship. UGA will finish 2 or 3 and beat “choke-lahoma ” GATA!!!
LakeDawg
August 6th, 2012
5:48 pm
Injuries happen. Its a part of football. I hope injuries don’t convince Richt to cut down on scrimmages. He’s done that in the past with disasterous results (see 2008). Plug the next guy in and keep moving.
Cmdawg99
August 6th, 2012
6:08 pm
Attention all running backs . Start stretching your hammies now. Thanks go dawgs!
Mookie
August 6th, 2012
6:10 pm
I just hope we get the chance to face LSU again! Bama is going to need all the “rolls” to wipe them tears off!!
Beast from the East
August 6th, 2012
6:13 pm
Disappointed to hear about Drew. After all the talk from Dawg Nation, I am looking forward to seeing what he’s got on the football field. Hopefully, he’s not out long.
gamechanger will he ever get a clue
August 6th, 2012
6:15 pm
The sage gamechanger said John Jenkins is academically ineligible and dogs are facing major sanctions if he plays. 6′9″ 350lb linemen have no place on football field and won’t be able to compete in SEC, AM has horrible mechanics , Now the students are going to lose interest in top 10 ranked team. Bama plays Florida atlantic, Ole miss , Miss State, Western Carolina during one stretch of home games, What was Bamas AD doing? And Florida Plays Jax State and Louisiana Rajun Cajuns back to back in November, throw in Bowling green to open the season, 3 of LSU first 5 home games are North Texas, Towson State,and Idaho. No one will show up or watch any of those games either.Georgias the only SEC team scheduling lightweights.Lets not leave out Arkansas ULM, Jax State, Rutgers are 3 of their 1st 4 home games .
LakeDawg
August 6th, 2012
6:21 pm
Hey Saban! “Analyize” this!
LakeDawg
August 6th, 2012
6:23 pm
*Analyze
Charlie Hayes
August 6th, 2012
6:26 pm
Got to spend a little time on the field today. Was able to see Jonathan Taylor and John Theus getting reps with the 1st team. Great to see the big freshman able to get in there and compete against the older guys. Really gives me confidence that UGA is getting back to the good ole days with solid lineman in the trenches! Come on Tunsel, we need you in Athens to join the party! Waiting on you brother!
Poopdawg
August 6th, 2012
6:27 pm
Beast , who is going to be carrying the ball at TB during crunch time for the gators? Who is your pick for the sec west?
Big Crimson 75
August 6th, 2012
6:45 pm
Analyze what!!
What in the world could Mark Richt or uga have that Saban would need to analyze?
Humor me, please…………..
Beast from the East
August 6th, 2012
7:02 pm
Poopdawg,
Mike Gillislee is going to be our starting TB. Read today where true freshman Matt Jones is doing really well so far in camp and will push for playing time. Both are MUCH bigger than what we had last year in Demps and Rainey, so they should be able to run between the tackles. We couldn’t do that at all last year. Obviously, neither has the pure breakaway speed that Demps and Rainey possessed.
My pick for the west is LSU. I think Bama has too many players to replace from last year’s squad but I wouldn’t be willing to bet against them. Saban has been stockpiling talent…inexperienced or not.
UGA is my pick for the East but, of course, I’ll be pulling for the Gators to win it.
@Big Crimson
August 6th, 2012
7:09 pm
Since Nicks only 3-2 vs Richt all time , I am sure when he brought in his defending National championship team from LSU to Athens in 2004 and got beat 45-16 he left wishing he would’ve analyzed how to stop a deep pass. Perhaps in 2010 he should’ve anlyzed what Richt did wrong in 2008. Since Bama entered the season ranked # 1 and went 10-3 just like Georgia did in 2008. Or in 2007 when Georgia beat Bama in overtime in Tuscaloosa . It seems like Richts has won 2 out of last 3 vs Nick. Sabans a great coach, dissing Georgia and Richt only makes you look small.
AugustaDawg
August 6th, 2012
7:12 pm
UGA > T
"The offensive line looked great the first 5 days"
August 6th, 2012
7:27 pm
…Well, heck, I would look great, too, in shorts, and I am nearly 60 years old –
Get real Aaron – when you are throwing INT’s due to the line play later this season (like last year that cost UGA all four losses), let’s see what you say then…
Tampa Gator
August 6th, 2012
7:51 pm
JJ
August 6th, 2012
4:56 pm
“Florida will lose at least 7 games this year. You heard it here first. Worst set of quarterbacks in the conferrence. (Well maybe Auburn would give them a run.”
@JJ……
Brent Pease….who coached perhaps the best college QB in the country…..completely disagrees with your analysis of Jeff Driskell and Jacoby Brissett….and he knows a little more about football than you. Yes, they were thrown into a very difficult situation last year and were not prepared to play well as freshmen. Well….they aren’t freshmen any more and the talent that had them so highly rated by every recruiting is still there….which would be both over 6′3 and both over 220 lbs and both with NFL type throwing arms…and both very athletic and mobile. They will understand the entire offense this year….will have experience….and will make you eat your words (I copied them to my running Dawg fan predictions) by the end of the year…..and most likely the last weekend in October.
You predicting 7 losses by the Gators….well…just laughable. The team won 7 games last year with no QB and no offense. This team will be significantly improved on offense….and will be even better than they were last year on defense. Reminder….you great Georgia team played that bad Florida team (offense only) and managing to overwhelm the Gators by 4 points. We will see if those 4 points hold up this year.
By the way….JJ….did you go lay your life savings on that 7 loss season for the Gators in Vegas. If so….enjoy living on the streets.
CBS
August 6th, 2012
7:54 pm
ESPN and CBS Sports both have reported Georgia is known for early season blunders with 3 to 4 suspensions each year under Richt. You never get this with the stellar schools like LSU and Bama. Never gonna change till Richt is FIRED.
Tampa Gator
August 6th, 2012
8:00 pm
….and JJ….so you know…..
My pick to win the East is Georgia with a 6-2 conference record….losing to both Florida and South Carolina. South Carolina will lose to LSU, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Florida will lose to South Carolina, LSU, and Tennessee. Tennessee will lose to Georgia, Bama, and will be upset by one other team. Vandy will lose 4 or 5. Kentucky will be winless in the East. Georgia again benefits from playing the least challenging SEC schedule and wins the East…..making Spurrier even madder….but will lose again by more than 15 to LSU in Atlanta. But will beat a Big Ten team in a bowl game.
Tampa Gator
August 6th, 2012
8:05 pm
Charlie Hayes….
I think you can pencil in Tunsil at LT for Georgia in the future. He is not coming to Florida with D.J. Humphries at LT (freshman) and Chaz Green at RT (soph). And Theus being put at RT sends Tunsil the message he wanted to hear….”You will be the starting LT for the Dawgs.”
Tampa Gator
August 6th, 2012
8:10 pm
truedawg….
The best defense in the country is in Baton Rouge, LA….LSU. Sorry.
And Florida actually has 5 QBs on their roster……two previously being two of the highest rated QB recruits in the country….and they are now being coached up by Brent Pease….who coached up a lesser rated QB at Boise State….you might remember him and Brent Pease’s offense from last year. Get ready for it in late October….and those no QBs at Florida. Also….you are going to be really surprised how good Mike Gillislee is going to be this year….if he stays healthy. But Florida does lack quality and experienced depth behind him.
Bad Dawg
August 6th, 2012
8:14 pm
Your’e right Tampa Gator. Saying Florida will lose 7 games is a joke and the worse case scenario. If quarterback and running back play is consistently good and 1 or 2 WR’s step up the Gators could win the the east. I know that’s a lot of questions but a good offensive line should help solve alot of those problems. I’ll give the Gators 8-10 wins this year depending on how long it takes the offense to find its rhythym. Also good news on Tunsil, I’m hoping he decides to sign with UGA. He is much needed.
godawg
August 6th, 2012
8:40 pm
The closer we get to regular season the more idiots we see on the blog. You know who you are…please stop it…life is too short to have to read your inane commenta…thank you…(was that an inane comment?)…hmmmmmmm….
HONKEY KONG
August 6th, 2012
8:52 pm
Maybe Preacher drew got slain in the spirit and hit his head on a church altar……Dont worry, God will take care of his children…. Believe that !
God fearin Dawg!!!
August 6th, 2012
9:00 pm
God has a blessing instore for CMR… we has humbled himself and hasn’t waivered…..I got a feelin that this years team will be special. Marshall and Gurley are a special breed. unique and very mature I may say.. Ray Drew keep ya faith.. God is gonna delieve Satan unto ur feet, maybe its Nick Saban in the Ga Dome…… Go DAwgs!!!!
Jay
August 6th, 2012
9:04 pm
With all the concussion talk in the news and deaths blamed for multiple ones, he should be out for a while. I’d say at least one month from practice and 1-3 games.